NEW Omusati Governor Erginus Endjala shared with New Era’s Nuusita Ashipala how he intends to tackle the challenges facing his region.
New Era (NE): What strategic plans do you have for the next five years as governor to address the raft of challenges faced by Omusati?
Erginus Endjala (EE): In the first place, we must concentrate on coming up with an integrated master plan, which details the economic development needs of our region in the various sectors. My focus really is on rural development; to touch the hearts of the last person in the rural community.
Secondly, we will tackle unemployment among the youth, which is predominantly very high.
Thirdly, we will focus on the general development of the region. It is a challenge, however, I am not operating in isolation. I found institutions and running machineries in place. My task perhaps is to add oomph to the existing policies and see how best to address the situation.
NE: In your initial assessment of the region, what are some of the major challenges facing it at the moment?
EE: Omusati is part of the four northern regions faced with severe drought following low rainfall in the area this year. We may expect a poor harvest this year, however, our priority is to ensure that no person starves or dies of hunger.
Another disturbing challenge is the ever-increasing gender-based violence reports that have infested our region.
NE: How is your experience as Swapo regional coordinator going to help you to tackle some of these challenges?
EE: The regional co-ordinator’s office and that of the regional governor are almost just one. The only difference is that the co-ordinator represents the party and the governor the government. However, the focus is common. As a co-ordinator, my task was to monitor and co-ordinate government operations in the region and also to advice the colleagues to accelerate development. With that understanding, there is nothing new for me; it is just a change of institution from being a co-ordinator to a governor.
NE: Recently there were concerns that some regions do not optimally utilise the money allocated to them by central government. How do you intend to avoid this scenario in Omusati?
EE: This is not a regional problem because decentralisation has not reached a level where the region can autonomously decide how to utilise the money allocated to it. For now, we still rely on the line ministries, who are sometimes reluctant to avail the money immediately, hence the money is returned to Treasury at the end of the year.
This time around, I will ensure that the line ministries are accountable and ensure that money is released when it is needed. My wish is that the budget is transferred to the regions so that we can utilise the money as per our regional needs.
I will not leave any stones unturned and I want to put it on record that if there is a ministry that is still holding our money, they must release it because that money is for the development of the region. Give the money so that we implement the projects.
NE: And how do you plan to deal with contractors who are short-changing government by delivering sub-standard work in the region?
EE: The tender process is handled in Windhoek by the line ministry. In many cases, the region is not even informed, you just see people erecting tents already and you have absolutely no control over them. My request is that government liaise with the regions before awarding tenders or before they even lay any foundation at the site.
If contractors are deserting projects then it means the bigger portion of the money is given at the commencement of the work at the projects and it also means that the contractors are not vetted properly. And because of such failures contractors acquire tenders in dubious ways hence they cannot do a credible job.
NE: Barbaric murder of women as well as the prohibition of school-going children from attending school is rife in Omusati. What is your point of view on this?
EE: I suggest that instead of having social workers at the hospitals and all other institutions, it is time to have them in the villages too to assist people who have marital or relationship problems.
The issue of prohibiting children from attending school is crucial. Usually, the minority groups desert school to get married and look after livestock. Perhaps we need to establish a special programme to encourage parents to take their children to school.
NE: During the 2014/15 financial year, your line ministry awarded Omusati, as the best-governed region. How do you intend to uphold this?
EE: 2015 has been an Omusati year thus far. We recorded numerous achievements; one is for the best-governed region then for the best-run local authority, which is Ruacana Town Council. The Under-20 The Namibian football cup was also scooped by Omusati. So, if things do not take the same route now that I am the governor then it means that I have failed my people. We want to keep the legacy, which means we will have to redouble our efforts to scoop more awards. The awards were not attained through one person’s effort, but the effort of all stakeholders in the region. I encourage the stakeholders to promote and maintain the spirit of teamwork.
Our target for now, however, is with education. This year, we are number three, next year we want to take one step ahead and be number two. The year after we want to be number one. It is achievable, we just need to work together.
NE: What is your view on civil servants who give mediocre service to the public?
EE: Government performance is in the hands of the civil servants. The role of implementing the policies is in the hands of the civil servants. Underperformance, laziness and indiscipline will not be tolerated while I am the governor. My call to those civil servants, who are not performing – especially those in supervisory positions, is to shape up or ship out. It does not help to have good policies if we do not have the implementers.
NE: Omusati is often singled out as one of the regions that does not tolerate opposition activities. What’s your take on this?
EE: Political parties convince people to vote for them, but there are those that come to provoke people and cry foul and these are usually the minority parties in the area. Because they feel intimidated and have no foot to stand on they provoke and then they claim they were not welcomed. To be honest, political parties should play the game and not the man. What does it mean or symbolise if you come to hold a rally, but you have a truck full of sticks and pangas? Are you going to fight your own people?